Folding gate



A ril 4, 1967 J. CATALANO FOLDING GATE Filed March 4, 1964 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l mmmq WMWW JNVENTOR p 4, 1967 J. CATALANO 3,312,272

United States Patent 3,312,272 FOLDING GATE Joseph Catalano, 1218 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60622 Filed Mar. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 349,248 3 Claims. (Cl. 160-162) The present invention relates to a folding gate.

A folding gate, as is known, includes a mesh that is made up of a plurality of strips or links pivotally connected together at spaced points and arranged for extension and contraction similarly to scissors links, or lazy tongs.

The invention resides in the field having a main large mesh forming apertures of predetermined size between the strips making up the mesh, and additional strips secured to the strips forming the main mesh for dividing the apertures therein into smaller apertures, and in which the gate can be folded or contracted into a space in which the main mesh itself can be contracted, that is, the auxiliary strips do not impede the contraction of the gate as a whole into a predetermined space or volume. Such a folding gate is claimed broadly in US. Patent No. 2,990,- 880, issued July 4, 1961, to Marie E. and Marlene F. Catalano.

A broad object of the present invention is to provide a folding gate of the foregoing general character that includes features in addition to those disclosed in the patent mentioned above.

Another and more specific object is to provide a gate of the foregoing general character which is sturdier than gates heretofore known.

Another and more specific object is to provide a gate of the foregoing general character including main strips forming a main mesh and auxiliary strips disposed between the planes of the main strips.

In one form of the invention, the auxiliary strips can be extended to the margin of the area of the gate determined by the main mesh, and in addition, the auxiliary strips, by their interaction, provide greater sturdiness to the gate structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a face view, diagrammatic in nature, of a folding gate made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a large scale fragmentary face view of a portion of the gate of FIG. 1 showing in detail the strips forming the mesh; W

FIG. 3 is a face view of the gate portion of FIG. 2 in folded condition;

FIG. 4 is a large scale sectional view taken at line 44 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a large scale sectional view taken at line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a face view similar to FIG. 1, showing a portion of a modified form of gate;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the gate of FIG. 6, on an enlarged scale, and showing the details of construction of the strips making up the mesh;

FIG. 8 is a top view taken at line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken at line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, attention is directed to FIG. 1 showing a gate made according to the "ice present invention. The gate as a whole is indicated at 12, which includes a main mesh portion 14 and end rails 16 to which the mesh portion is secured. The end rails 16 are adapted for securement to the side frame members of a doorway, one of the rails being, for example, semipermanently attached to one of the side frame members, and the other and movable end rail being detachably secured to the opposite side frame member. The gate is stretched across the doorway, and the movable rail is secured in place as by a lock means, and when the doorway is to be opened the gate is unlocked and folded to the opposite side of the doorway.

The mesh portion 14 which is shown in larger scale and in detail in FIGS. 2 to 5 includes a main mesh made up of two sets of strips 18 and 20. The strips 18 of one set are parallel with each other and lie in a common plane, while the other strips 20 are also parallel with each other and lie in a common plane. The strips of the two sets are disposed at a mutual angle which decreases as the gate is folded and increases as the gate is opened out. The strips 18 and 20 may be in the form of channels (FIGS. 4 and 5) and are of relatively great size, these strips and the corresponding main mesh of the gate forming the major strength of the gate. The strips 18 and 20 are riveted together at intersections, and preferably at all intersections, as by rivets 22, enabling pivotal movement between the strips of the two sets.

As shown in FIGS. 1 t0 5, another and auxiliary set of strips is provided, in this case constituting a single set, as contrasted with a pair of such sets in another embodiment of the invention decribed hereinbelow, These auxiliary strips indicated at 24 are parallel with each other, and are disposed in a plane lying between the planes of the main sets 18 and 20. In the present instance, the strips 24 are parallel with the strips 20, and are riveted to the strips 18, as by rivets 26. The auxiliary strips 24 are disposed midway between the strips 20, and are preferably of lesser width than the strips 20, so as to enable the gate to be folded to a compact position in which the main strips 20 are in engagement with one another. The two main sets of strips 18 and 20 are preferably spaced apart by spacers 28 (FIG. 5) which preferably are in the form of sleeves surrounding the rivets 22. These spacers are preferably of a length substantially equal to the thickness of the auxiliary strips 24, plus a slightly greater dimension, if desired, to eliminate excess friction between the various strips and provide easier opening and closing movements of the gate. However, it is conceivable within the scope of the invention to eliminate the spacers 28 and rely on the auxiliary strips 24 to provide the spacing between the two sets of strips 18 and 20.

The main mesh formed by the main strips 18 and 20 provides apertures indicated generally at 30, which are bounded on the four sides by the respective strips 18 and 20. It will be observed that these apertures are of substantial size, but the utilization of the auxiliary strips 24 reduces the dimension of these apertures by more than one-half, in one direction. Each smaller aperture 32 is bounded on one side by a strip 20, on the opposite side by a strip 24, and on the other two sides by opposed main strips 18.

In many installations where such folding gates are put in place, a mesh such as the main mesh may be sufficient, notwithstanding the fact that the apertures 30 are relatively large, and generally of a size that an adult can extend his arm therethrough. However, by the provision of the auxiliary strips 24 these apertures are reduced to less than half the size, and to a size, depending upon the dimensions of the gate, usually in which an adult could not extend his arm therethrough. Notwithstanding the additional strips 24 which are provided for that greater ad vantage, the gate can be folded to a compact position in which it occupies no more space, in a linear direction, between the end rails 16 than a gate made up solely of the main mesh and without the auxiliary strips 24. To this end the strips 24 are of a width substantially equivalent to the width of a main strip less the diameter of the spacers 28, so that the main strips can fold into a position in which they abut one another, as shown in FIG. 3. The abutment or engagement between adjacent strips in one plane, such as either 18 or 20, limits the folding movement of the gate, and the auxiliary strips 24 are disposed between the center lines of the correspondingly adjacent pairs of main strips 20. Such position of the auxiliary strips is shown clearly in FIG. 3, where they are offset relative to the main strips and parallel with those main strips, i.e., the strips 20.

The main sets of strips 18 and 20 provide the main strength of the mesh of the gate, these strips being connected to each other, and since they lie in the outermost planes of the gate provide a strong and rugged construction. The auxiliary strips 24 provide an added strength to the gate, being connected with the main strips 18. Since the outer strips provide the main strength of the gate, the auxiliary strips 24 may be of considerably lesser dimensions, the thickness being considerably less than the corresponding dimension of the outer main strips, and the width thereof less than the width of the main strips, as pointed out above, the strips being confined between the rivets of adjacent pairs of main strips 20. Another factor providing sturdiness and strength of the gate is the fact that the auxiliary strips 24 have flat engagement with the main strips 18 throughout a substantial area at their points of intersection, this feature resisting flexure of the gate in directions perpendicular to the plane of the mesh.

A modification of the gate of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9. In the present embodiment, the mesh portion of the gate is made up of main strips 18 and 20, as described above, which form the main mesh, and auxiliary strips 24. In addition to the foregoing strips, an additional set of auxiliary strips 34 is provided. These strips 34 are disposed parallel with the main strips 18 and between the correspondingly adjacent ones of those strips. The strips 34 are riveted to the main strips 20 as by rivets 36, but are preferably detached from the counterpart auxiliary strips 24 for the most part, and except as specified below. The strips 34 are preferably of the same dimensions as the strips 24, and coact with the parallel main strips 18 in the folding movements of the gate, and in closed position are confined between the rivets of the corresponding strips 18 and are of such narrow width as to enable the adjacent main strips 18 to abut one another in full folded position of the gate.

In the present instance, the auxiliary strips 24 and 34 are extended beyond their extreme points of connection with the main strips, such as indicated at 38 in FIG. 7, where the ends of cooperating strips 24 and 34 are riveted together as by rivets 40. These intersections of the auxiliary strips 24 and 34 are located substantially at the margin of the area determined by the extremes of the main strips 18 and 20. For example, the dot-dash line 42 may represent the header of a doorway adjacent which the gate, in its intended extended position, closely approaches the main strips 18 and 20. Were it not for the extension of the auxiliary strips 24 and 34, a substantially greater gap would exist through which a person could reach, but the extension of the auxiliary strips reduces this gap and prevents such reaching therethrough.

This same condition may prevail at the ends of the gate, as for example, at the point 44, where the auxiliary strips 24 and 34 are extended into juxtaposition with the corresponding rail 16 and are riveted together, thus reducing the otherwise great gap that would exist between that rail and the end portions of the adjacent main strips 18 and 20. It will be understood that these auxiliary strips 18 and 20 may be extended to the margin of the area mentioned at any and all points therearound, or may be pro vided at selected ones of those points, as desired.

The provision of the two sets of auxiliary strips 24 and 34 provides a substantial margin of additional strength to the mesh of the gate. These auxiliary strips, not only because of their securement to the corresponding main strips, but also because of their interengagement at a great plurality of points throughout the area of the mesh, as indicated at one such point at 46 in FIG. 7, provides a substantial degree of strength and sturdiness to the gate. Another advantage of the invention is that the auxiliary strips, being of substantially lesser dimension than the main strips, as is preferable because of the reliance on the main strips for the strength, can be positioned between the outer and relatively stronger main strips, whereby to protect the auxiliary strips against accidental bending, as may occur by accidental blows inflicted on the gate. Such gates are often used, for example, as end gates for trucks, and in such usage they are subjected to unusually heavy blows, but because of the fact that the smaller auxiliary strips are confined between the outer bigger and stronger strips, a minimum of damage occurs to the smaller auxiliary strips.

While I have shown herein certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding gate of the character disclosed, comprising a mesh having ends, a top and a bottom, the mesh being made up of integral strips arranged in sets including a main pair of sets and at least one auxiliary set, each set being disposed essentially in a different plane, and the planes being arranged in juxtaposed position, the strips in each of the main pair of sets being parallel and the strips of those two sets being relatively inclined at an angle and being interconnected at spaced points therealong, the points of connection including points adjacent the ends of the strips, the strips in the auxiliary set being also parallel, the auxiliary set being disposed between the interfacing surfaces of the main sets, and each strip in the auxiliary set being interconnected at spaced points with strips of an adjacent main set, the strips of the auxiliary set being parallel with the strips of the main set to which they are not connected and forming an angle with the strips of the main set to which they areconnected similar to the angle between the strips of the two main sets, all of the connections between the strips being pivotal connections, and the mesh being extensible and contractable in direction between the ends thereof, the strips in each main set being disposed in side by-side abutting relationship when the mesh is in contracted position, and the strips of the auxiliary set being narrower than those of the main sets, whereby to enable the strips of the auxiliary set to lie between the rows of connecting means connecting the strips of the main sets when the latter are in side-by-side abutting relationship, and the mesh, when fully contracted, having an end-to-end dimension no greater than that determined by the side-by-side abutting relationship of the strips in the main sets.

2. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein the structure includes a single auxiliary set, the stripsof the auxiliary set are substantially thinner than the strips of the main sets in direction perpendicular in the plane of the mesh, and are connected at their ends to respective ones of the strips of the associated main set.

3. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein two auxiliary sets are provided, the strips of the auxiliary sets are disposed relatively at an angle similar to the angle between the strips of the two main sets, the strips of each auxiliary set are parallel with the strips of the main set to which they are not connected and disposed at an angle relative to the strips of the main set .to which they are connected similar to the angle between the strips of the two main sets, the strips of the auxiliary sets are extended at their ends beyond the endmost points of their connection with the respective main sets and terminate in a line defining the respective marginal edge of the mesh, and the ends of each pair of intersecting auxiliary strips at that line being pivotally interconnected, the strips of the auxiliary sets are thinner than the strips of the main sets in direction perpendicular to the plane of the mesh, and the strips of the auxiliary sets are in relatively offset planes and those in each set bear on the strips of the main set to which they are connected throughout the full transverse 15 width of the latter strips.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 417,898 12/1889 Bataille 160-162 X 2,990,880 7/1961 Catalano et al 160-162 3,145,766 8/1964 Wickhain et al. 160136 X FOREIGN PATENTS 596,360 8/1925 France.

167,421 5/ 1934 Switzerland.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner. P. M, CAUN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FOLDING GATE OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED, COMPRISING A MESH HAVING ENDS, A TOP AND A BOTTOM, THE MESH BEING MADE UP OF INTEGRAL STRIPS ARRANGED IN SETS INCLUDING A MAIN PAIR OF SETS AND AT LEAST ONE AUXILIARY SET, EACH SET BEING DISPOSED ESSENTIALLY IN A DIFFERENT PLANE, AND THE PLANES BEING ARRANGED IN JUXTAPOSED POSITION, THE STRIPS IN EACH OF THE MAIN PAIR OF SETS BEING PARALLEL AND THE STRIPS OF THOSE TWO SETS BEING RELATIVELY INCLINED AT AN ANGLE AND BEING INTERCONNECTED AT SPACED POINTS THEREALONG, THE POINTS OF CONNECTION INCLUDING POINTS ADJACENT THE ENDS OF THE STRIPS, THE STRIPS IN THE AUXILIARY SET BEING ALSO PARALLEL, THE AUXILIARY SET BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE INTERFACING SURFACES OF THE MAIN SETS, AND EACH STRIP IN THE AUXILIARY SET BEING INTERCONNECTED AT SPACED POINTS WITH STRIPS OF AN ADJACENT MAIN SET, THE STRIPS OF THE AUXILIARY SET BEING PARALLEL WITH THE STRIPS OF THE MAIN SET TO WHICH THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED AND FORMING AN ANGLE WITH THE STRIPS OF THE MAIN SET TO WHICH THEY ARE CONNECTED SIMILAR TO THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE STRIPS OF THE TWO MAIN SETS, ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE STRIPS BEING PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS, AND THE MESH BEING EXTENSIBLE AND CONTRACTABLE IN DIRECTION BETWEEN THE ENDS THEREOF, THE STRIPS IN EACH MAIN SET BEING DISPOSED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WHEN THE MESH IS IN CONTRACTED POSITION, AND THE STRIPS OF THE AUXIL- 